Dear Wanderlust, The Series Continues

"Travel makes you modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world," - Gustav Flaubert.

Dear Wanderlust,

The series continues.......

Meet Kelsey and her beautiful daughter!

Last time your eyes were glued to this blog, you read about a daring, young woman who gave her life wings and travelled all the way to Spain from a tiny speck on the world map, known as Trinidad. Now moving there on your own is a whole experience in itself, but what if you moved with your immediate family too? Would that make you feel less homesick with them there? Let's find out in this interview with Kelsey, who moved to Vietnam - from Trinidad -  with her family. Yes, you read that correctly. V I E T N A M.

1. Location:

Q. Where are you from originally and where did you move to?

A. I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Trinidad and Tobago. As far as places to be born, T&T is as good as it gets. However, for a year now, my family and I have been living in the East Asian country of Vietnam.

Q. Have you ever been to that country before you made your decision to migrate?

A. Prior to our present move, we had not been anywhere near Asia. 

2. Motivation:

Q. Why did you choose that country?

A. Prior to 2018, migration was never a thought to my husband and I. It was not until a few job opportunities presented themselves that we decided to take the plunge. It was never in our plans to leave Trinidad. 

3. Departure:

Q. Describe your departure from Trinidad and arrival to your new country?

A. Our family has always been a really integral part of our lives, so it was extremely difficult to say farewell. Our entire family was present for our midnight flight. It was a blend of fear and excitement. After four flights, three layovers and 21 hours we were finally on Vietnam soil. The airport was big and clean and flooded with people. The country has a population of 97 million so it's not uncommon for most places to be crowded. Coming from Trinidad it was one of the first noticeable differences.

4. Language:

Q. Can you speak the local language fluently?

A. The local language is Vietnamese, and no we cannot speak the language. We can communicate enough to interact on a basic level, commute and shop.

Q. If no, how do you communicate with the locals?

A. Apart from our very basic level of communication Google Translate has been perfect! It’s so useful. However, because the service sector is thriving in Vietnam a lot of the locals actually speak pretty good English, so that also aids in communication.

A Vietnamese street vendor.

5. Family/Friends:

Q. Do you miss any family members from your original country and how are they coping with your move?

A. My husband and I cherish dearly our relationships with our family. So being away from them has been difficult. However, the hardest part of this move, is definitely moving our daughter away from her grandparents. Both mothers were devastated at the thought of not seeing their granddaughter as often as they were used to.

Q. How do you deal with homesickness?

A. Christmas was by far the hardest the homesickness has ever hit. We were so used to house hopping, pastelle making, gift exchanges, family, children playing and all of the feelings. However, it was just us three. It was special in its own way, but the extended family was definitely missed. Most times when the homesickness hits, I just allow myself to feel it. I allow myself to cry and then I wait till they are awake (time difference of 11 hours), and give them a call.

Q. Have you made any local friends in your new country?

A. There’s a large community of expatriates here, so making friends is easy once you really want to. Added to which, having a child and arranging play-dates is also a nice way to make peers. It’s nice to make friends who likewise have left their families and are new to the country also. It is also nice to meet so many diverse people and learn about their countries and its traditions.

6. Food

Q. What food are you missing from home the most?

A. Oh my Lorsh!! This can be an entire paragraph of food. I have been making a list and checking it twice, of all the food I can’t wait to eat on our upcoming visit. There is the main one curry in all its forms, DOUBLES!!! fried pies, red mango, baked cheese pie (from the pie man basket) and Pelau to name a few!

Q. What is the weirdest/most delicious food you’ve tried in your new country?

A. Vietnamese food is so delicious. Almost everything I’ve tried has been over the moon delicious.I am not a very adventurous eater, so I haven’t tried anything "out there".

Q. Is the taste drastically different from Caribbean food?

A. The food is also highly seasoned but the taste is so different. For one, Vietnamese dishes consist of a lot of vegetables and greens, it is less oily and the portions are noticeably smaller. As far as the taste, their food is a variety of flavors with a unique options of dishes. I can’t exactly describe what makes the two uniquely different but they are equally delicious.

Q. Recommend a spot you can get Caribbean food in your new country?

 A. I can’t say I’ve found any Caribbean food in my time here so far.

7. Healthcare:

Q. Can you rely on the local healthcare service – or do you need private insurance?

A. Well Vietnam’s private sector is the primary source of many services mainly because of the language barrier. Since we’ve been here, we’ve visited the doctor a few times, it has always been private and the service and the facilities immaculate. We never used the local healthcare system so I can’t really comment where that is concerned. However, if you relocate to Vietnam for work as it is with most jobs, health is usually covered benefit.

Q. As it relates to Trinidad’s health care system, is there a big difference?

A. Trinidad’s public health care system to me, is pretty inconveniencing. Prior to our move we handled all our medical needs privately. The medical practitioners are excellent in Trinidad, but without the proper support from the government and the necessary resources, it has rendered them almost useless. So I can only compare the private health sector of Trinidad to that of Vietnam. I would honestly say I prefer Vietnam’s service. The service is quick, the technology is modern and the diagnosis accurate.

8. Community: 

Q. Could you describe your general community and are the locals friendly?

A. I live in the city of Vietnam that is predominantly occupied by foreigners. In this city the design is western and more familiar. There are familiar restaurants, infrastructure, clothes pretty much everything. Some foreigners prefer to live in the heart of the culture and consider cities such as mine a “bubble” but being able to communicate and have a sense of familiarity (especially raising a child), was important to my husband and I. Of course we still move fluidly between cities, as most are accessible via taxi, train, bus or plane.

The locals are extremely friendly. EXTREMELY. They are especially kind where our daughter is concerned. Anywhere we go, people are always giving her fruits and treats. In some restaurants the staff even entertain her so my husband and I can eat. Throughout the design of most of the stores, you can tell they considered parents and children. Apart from relating to our daughter, the locals are just so kind. They often offer to hold my groceries while I wait for my taxi, the service is EXTRAORDINARY. To my husband and I, the locals are the best part of Vietnam, the people are wonderful.

Q. Did any locals assist with the move/transition?

A. My Husband’s company has been so generous is getting us settled and making us feel at home.

Q. Do you have access to a lot of convenience stores?

A. There is no shortage of stores, malls, and convenience stores. There are even stores that are solely dedicated to the selling of western products. This was one of the first places our new friends took us, and I must admit it made the transition that much smoother.

Q. Where’s your favourite spot to hang out in your new country?

A. Wow! This is tough! Asia on the whole are so creative when it comes to the entertainment sector. There’s so much to do and see here. It really depends on what your preference of past time entails. Wow...am… to take our daughter it would be Savico mall, this mall is really dedicated to children. It’s about four levels and each store has a variety of children activities. There’s one store made up of snow, it’s cold but so much fun. For myself, it’ll be hard to pick just one, I like visiting the cafes and trying new meals.

9. Costs:

Q. As it relates to Trinidad’s cost of living, do you think that you get more quality & quantity for your money? (Let’s say at the grocery store or general expenses?)

A. Vietnam is really an affordable place to live. Like anywhere else in the world, it really does depend on a variety of factors and the individual’s particular needs.

However, once you are a wise spender there is no reason why you cannot live a comfortable and enjoyable life in Vietnam.

10. Future/Advice:

Q. What touristy things would you recommend someone should do if they visited your country?

A. Of course there are all the sites:

Temple of Literature

War Museum

Ha long Bay

Notre Dame Cathedral

Jade Emperor Pagoda

Then there’s the more relaxed touristy adventures:

Hoan Kiem and Phan Boi Chau night market. Just streets and streets of shopping and food

Water Puppet Theatre

Q. If your daughter decided that she wanted to migrate to another country on her own when she grows older, how do you think you will feel, will you allow her to do so and what advice will you give her?

A. I would encourage it actually. The world is so large and the experiences so widespread. Living abroad widens your view of life and gives you a healthy perspective on which to see the world and the people in it. Even though it is quite possible to have all those things in your birth country, there is something to be said about interacting with a culture that differs from your own.

Q. What are the 2 or 3 most important things that people could do to make the process of coming to a new country better?

A. Be flexible. Do not come with too many expectations or preconceived notions based on other people’s experiences or even from what you may have read. Instead just come open and willing to roll with the punches and adjust to suit. Have fun and take it all in.

Don’t be afraid to miss home. Change is hard, and being sad about what you left, does not take away from the happiness of what you’ve found.

 - End -

Thanks Kelsey for sharing your journey with the world! Real stories like yours inspire so many persons to take risks and actually enjoy their lives. I think that you guys made the best decision for your family by migrating to another country.  Even though your motivation was job-related there are a lot of persons who are scared to leave their current jobs, much less pack up and leave their country! By making that decision, I think that you're giving yourselves and your daughter so much exposure to other cultures, people and so much more that you wouldn't be able to experience without exploring outside of your comfort zone. Say it one more time for the people in the back: "Don’t be afraid to miss home. Change is hard, and being sad about what you left, does not take away from the happiness of what you’ve found" - Kelsey (2019).